Being someone who was born in Canada, raised in Saudi Arabia and ethnically from Lebanon, I enjoy being around different cultures. After my first year of university I was looking for a change of scenery & wanted to learn a new language (even if only at a beginner’s level). This led me to applying for exchange and in the Spring 2015 I attended Korea University Business School.
What I truly appreciated about Korea is that it retains much of its own culture, and in Seoul they blend it with incoming cultures from around the world. In Vancouver we see a melting pot with no true “Canadian culture”, and these days that is how we define our culture. We are used to seeing people from around the world in Vancouver, but still defining them as Canadians, while in Korea the expat community is just starting to flourish. Culturally, I prefer Seoul because there is a variety of cultures, and people that all have different stories to tell and habits they exhibit. Not only was I introduced to Korean culture, but I also got to experience French, German and quite a few other different cultures as well.
One of my favourite things about Korea was the variety of food. The first and last meal I had in Korea is called Galbi Tang, which is basically a beef stew. When I first arrived in Seoul I fished snacks out of the local 7/11 for two days since everything was closed because of the Lunar New Year. The day after it ended, I went out with my building manager and two students from France for lunch. It was my first real meal and the first time I met new people. My last meal just so happened to be at the same place, and I spent that meal with two other friends. I felt like it brought everything to a nice close, having spent my first and last meal in the same restaurant, at the same table, eating the same dish with good friends.
When you’re on exchange most people end up traveling. I, however, spent all my time in or near Seoul. The rest of my time and money was spent on events and nights out with friends in Seoul… oh, and food. I tried to treat Seoul as a place I was living, I could only be a tourist for so long in a place I’m spending four months in. I went shopping, dining, clubbing, to music festivals, and ended up spending time watching Netflix or playing video games. I was at home; it may have only been my home for four months, but it was home.
Here are some tips for when you go on your own exchange:
Make sure you enjoy your city and plan for travel ahead of time. Due to my late planning, I never got to visit Japan. Do not book your departure ticket too early because you will end up making friends who you want to travel with after exams are over, and you may miss out on the trip of a life time. Remember that all the money you spend is bringing in new experiences so spend the time that money goes towards wisely. Lastly, make many good friends.
Hopefully you will continue traveling after your exchange experience. While studying abroad, you meet many other students living in places you may want to visit. Now you have a place to stay, or at least people to give you a tour around, and you can host them too. After I came back from Seoul, I went to Paris and saw many of my French friends that I had met in Korea, and stayed with one of them as well. These are the type of connections you should make so you can feel comfortable no matter where you go. I look forward to seeing my friends again and experiencing their cultures in their countries.
Ibrahim El Chami went to Korea University in Seoul, South Korea, in the Spring 2015 semester during his 2nd year. Being a third culture kid, he constantly strives to find new places to call home. He is engaged with the SFU community by sending people on exchange as the VP for the Outgoing Internship Program in AIESEC SFU for 2016, as well as being the Marketing Director in Soap for Hope, an Enactus project. You can email him at ielchami@sfu.ca if you have any questions!